GOLD
GOLD
GOLD
GOLD
OVERALL RATING ★★★★ ½ PERFORMANCE ★★★★ ½ INNOVATION ★★★★ LOOK • SOUND • FEEL ★★★★ ½
OVERALL RATING ★★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★★ INNOVATION ★★★★★ LOOK • SOUND • FEEL ★★★★ ½
OVERALL RATING ★★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★★ INNOVATION ★★★★ LOOK • SOUND • FEEL ★★★★ ½
OVERALL RATING ★★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★★ INNOVATION ★★★★★ LOOK • SOUND • FEEL ★★★★★
PING PLD MILLED R9 900 ‘The matte finish gives it a distinguished look, and the sound is pleasant like a door shutting on a new car.’ – 13-HANDICAP
‘The weighting keeps things on line longer – the ball just gets in the way, exactly what I want during
‘I feel the benefit of the clear window behind the insert. I don’t get punished as much on bad strokes.’ – 0-HANDICAP
‘Pillowy soft. No wasted space on this club. If I mis-hit it, the ball won’t go AWOL.’ – 10-HANDICAP
my stroke.’ – 13-HANDICAP
ODYSSEY
ODYSSEY Ai-ONE MILLED R9 500
MIZUNO M.CRAFT OMOI R5 500
Ai-ONE R6 300
WHY WE LIKE IT As greens have got faster, and average putting strokes have got yippier, putterheads in response got heavier. When Mizuno’s team, which had offered a weight kit with its original M.Craft lineup, saw more users opt for the heaviest possible configuration of those weights, the OMOI was born. The stock heads are almost 20 grams heavier than some standard models, shifting the club’s balance point lower, leading to more consistency in face rotation. One other thing all yippy putters need is more forgiveness on off-centre hits. • Adjustable sole weights increase stability on off-centre hits. • Three models (1, 2, 4); three finishes; slant neck or plumber’s neck; head weight: 370 grams; lengths: 34, 35 inches (86-89cm); loft: 3 degrees
WHY WE LIKE IT Blade putters that stretch the boundaries of off- centre-hit forgiveness seem more prevalent these days than padel injuries. Odyssey’s team found a method to keep the centre speed and raise it for mis-hits. Although that probably sounds like alchemy, for Odyssey it’s about machine learning and artificial intelligence. The odd topology on the back of these faces creates “microdeflections” for consistent roll. The urethane face coating makes all that tech feel like the company’s most favoured White Hot insert. • Soft aluminium face insert is coated with the same urethane used for the company’s famous White Hot insert. • Four models (#1, #2, Double Wide DB, Double Wide CH); head weight: 360 grams; lengths: 33-35 inches (84-89cm); loft: 3 degrees
WHY WE LIKE IT A titanium face on a putter wouldn’t seem to make much sense. Titanium is what makes driver faces hot, and a hot putter face seems like a recipe for binge drinking, but not here. Titanium is thin, light and strong with flexure properties. Flexing matters when you’re trying to create a putter face that intricately responds to the slightest variations in thickness, all created through artificial-intelligence simulations. Those thicknesses yield similar roll across the face.
WHY WE LIKE IT It involves a highly automated, computer- controlled process, but don’t assume milled putters are as easy to churn out as belt buckles. A lot of machinations make possible the beauty and complex efficiency behind these iconic Anser blade shapes. Every curve and angle was meticulously interpreted from elite player input and then matched with locating the most effective centres of gravity, weighting and even sole curvature. The purpose of all this precision is to make every stroke more, well, automatic.
• The lightweight, flexible face is designed with varying thicknesses to improve consistency across the face. • Two models (One T, Two T); head weight: 355 grams; lengths: 33-35 inches (84-89cm); loft: 3 degrees
• Faces have a deep milling pattern to create a soft feel. • Four models (Anser, Anser D, Anser 2, Anser 2D); satin and black finishes; head weight: 350, 365 grams; length: 34, 35 inches (86-89cm); loft: 3 degrees
FEEL
FEEL
FEEL
FEEL
Firm
Cushioned
Firm
Cushioned
Firm
Cushioned
Firm
Cushioned
HEFT
HEFT
HEFT
HEFT
Light
Heavy
Light
Heavy
Light
Heavy
Light
Heavy
SHAPE
SHAPE
SHAPE
SHAPE
Angular
Soft curves
Angular
Soft curves
Angular
Soft curves
Angular
Soft curves
TOP 5 FIRMEST FEELING, BLADE PUTTERS, LOW-HANDICAPS
TOP 5 BEST SOUND/FEEL, BLADE PUTTERS, MIDDLE-HANDICAPS
TOP 5 SOFTEST FEELING, BLADE PUTTERS, MIDDLE-HANDICAPS
TOP 5 BEST SOUND/FEEL, BLADE PUTTERS, LOW-HANDICAPS
105 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 106
HOTLIST 2024
HOTLIST 2024
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